Tonight, the Colonels will host defending conference champion and ninth-ranked Sam Houston State for homecoming. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. at John L. Guidry Stadium in Thibodaux.

"It's very difficult in this conference, and it just so happens there are no weak teams, so you have to play very well every week," Nicholls coach Charlie Stubbs said. It just so happens that our schedule is front-end loaded with veteran teams, so we have to be ready."

Stubbs said he compares the SLC to one of the top Bowl Championship Series conferences.

"The Southland Conference is kind of like the SEC. It's one of the better conferences in our division," Stubbs said. "It's not like it is a weak conference. It's going to take a real commitment, work ethic and all of that to get ourselves further up in the rankings."

Nicholls (1-3 overall, 0-1 in the SLC) could have its hands full against Sam Houston's top-ranked offense. The Bearkats (3-2, 1-1 in the SLC) leads the conference in rushing (259.6 yards per game) and scoring offense (39.6 points per game) and is second in total offense (463.8 yards per game).

Sam Houston's offense features the SLC's top running back in Tim Flanders (500 yards rushing, four touchdowns) and one of the most efficient quarterbacks in Brian Bell (1,107 yards passing and nine touchdowns).

By comparison, Nicholls' defense is ranked last in the conference (429.0 yards per game).

But playing at home could give the Colonels a much-needed boost. In its last home game, the Colonels rolled to a 73-17 win over Evangel University.

"I just want us to build on our last home performance against Evangel where we had a very good crowd and we played with a lot of enthusiasm," Stubbs said. "We are excited to be back at home for this game, and we are playing a very good football team. We are definitely going to need the 12th man, which is the crowd, because one of our goals is to make Nicholls a challenging place to play for our opponents."

Playing against Nicholls is also a concern for Sam Houston coach Willie Fritz. Throughout the week, the Bearkats have been practicing to face Nicholls' 3-4 defense, which is a scheme they have not faced much this season.

"We saw that type of defense in the first game against Incarnate Word, but they will have different type of athletes," Fritz said. "They will put a big guy over your center, and you have to decide which guy to block. That sometimes causes confusion, but we will be well prepared to face it."

Last week, Nicholls linebacker Jordan Piper tied a school record with 23 tackles.

Nicholls will be looking to build from its performance last week against Central Arkansas. The Colonels used two big offensive plays to take a 14-13 halftime lead but were outscored 21-0 in the second half.

Fritz said he has been impressed with the improvement the Colonels made since last season.

"I see a lot of talented athletes on their roster, and they have been throwing the ball much better," he said. "I definitely see some big time improvement form them. I know that we are going to have our hands full."

Quarterback Landry Klann also had one of his best performances in a conference game, completed 12-of-18 passes for 269 yards and a touchdown. On the season, he has completed 59 percent of his passes for 761 yards and five touchdowns.

Stubbs said the offense is starting to show signs that is starting to come together.

"We are starting to get the ball down the field some in the passing game," he said. "We are making the defense have to honor us. We are making some progress, but it is not enough."

Tonight's also marks a reunion for Stubbs and Fritz. Both coaches arrived at the respective schools for the 2010 season after being on the same staff at Central Missouri. Fritz was the team's head coach, and Stubbs served as the team's offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach.

Stubbs said he welcomes the opportunity to square off against one of his friends.

"When you have coached as long as I have going on 35 years, you will cross paths with guys you either played with or coached with," Stubbs said. "I really respect Willie because he is a good coach and a good man. Our teams will compete hard against one another, but our friendship will always be there."

NOTES

Sam Houston won last season's game, 47-7, in Huntsville, Texas, and lead the all-time series 16-10-1 ... The Colonels had five turnovers (three interceptions and two fumbles) in last season's game ... Nicholls' last defeated Sam Houston in 2005, a 37-17 victory in Thibodaux ... Sam Houston is 26-53-3 all-time in Louisiana ... The Bearkats lost in the FCS national championship game to North Dakota State, 17-6, last season ... The game can be heard on the radio at 100.3-FM, 1600-AM or 106.3-FM.

<p>It doesn't get any easier for the Nicholls State Colonels.</p><p>For the second straight week, the Colonels have to face a Southland Conference team ranked in the latest Football Championship Subdivision Top 25 poll.</p><p>Last week, Nicholls fell to No. 24 Central Arkansas, 34-14, in Conway, Ark.</p><p>Tonight, the Colonels will host defending conference champion and ninth-ranked Sam Houston State for homecoming. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. at John L. Guidry Stadium in Thibodaux.</p><p>"It's very difficult in this conference, and it just so happens there are no weak teams, so you have to play very well every week," Nicholls coach Charlie Stubbs said. It just so happens that our schedule is front-end loaded with veteran teams, so we have to be ready."</p><p>Stubbs said he compares the SLC to one of the top Bowl Championship Series conferences.</p><p>"The Southland Conference is kind of like the SEC. It's one of the better conferences in our division," Stubbs said. "It's not like it is a weak conference. It's going to take a real commitment, work ethic and all of that to get ourselves further up in the rankings."</p><p>Nicholls (1-3 overall, 0-1 in the SLC) could have its hands full against Sam Houston's top-ranked offense. The Bearkats (3-2, 1-1 in the SLC) leads the conference in rushing (259.6 yards per game) and scoring offense (39.6 points per game) and is second in total offense (463.8 yards per game).</p><p>Sam Houston's offense features the SLC's top running back in Tim Flanders (500 yards rushing, four touchdowns) and one of the most efficient quarterbacks in Brian Bell (1,107 yards passing and nine touchdowns).</p><p>By comparison, Nicholls' defense is ranked last in the conference (429.0 yards per game).</p><p>But playing at home could give the Colonels a much-needed boost. In its last home game, the Colonels rolled to a 73-17 win over Evangel University.</p><p>"I just want us to build on our last home performance against Evangel where we had a very good crowd and we played with a lot of enthusiasm," Stubbs said. "We are excited to be back at home for this game, and we are playing a very good football team. We are definitely going to need the 12th man, which is the crowd, because one of our goals is to make Nicholls a challenging place to play for our opponents."</p><p>Playing against Nicholls is also a concern for Sam Houston coach Willie Fritz. Throughout the week, the Bearkats have been practicing to face Nicholls' 3-4 defense, which is a scheme they have not faced much this season.</p><p>"We saw that type of defense in the first game against Incarnate Word, but they will have different type of athletes," Fritz said. "They will put a big guy over your center, and you have to decide which guy to block. That sometimes causes confusion, but we will be well prepared to face it."</p><p>Last week, Nicholls linebacker Jordan Piper tied a school record with 23 tackles.</p><p>Nicholls will be looking to build from its performance last week against Central Arkansas. The Colonels used two big offensive plays to take a 14-13 halftime lead but were outscored 21-0 in the second half.</p><p>Fritz said he has been impressed with the improvement the Colonels made since last season.</p><p>"I see a lot of talented athletes on their roster, and they have been throwing the ball much better," he said. "I definitely see some big time improvement form them. I know that we are going to have our hands full."</p><p>Quarterback Landry Klann also had one of his best performances in a conference game, completed 12-of-18 passes for 269 yards and a touchdown. On the season, he has completed 59 percent of his passes for 761 yards and five touchdowns.</p><p>Stubbs said the offense is starting to show signs that is starting to come together.</p><p>"We are starting to get the ball down the field some in the passing game," he said. "We are making the defense have to honor us. We are making some progress, but it is not enough."</p><p>Tonight's also marks a reunion for Stubbs and Fritz. Both coaches arrived at the respective schools for the 2010 season after being on the same staff at Central Missouri. Fritz was the team's head coach, and Stubbs served as the team's offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach.</p><p>Stubbs said he welcomes the opportunity to square off against one of his friends.</p><p>"When you have coached as long as I have going on 35 years, you will cross paths with guys you either played with or coached with," Stubbs said. "I really respect Willie because he is a good coach and a good man. Our teams will compete hard against one another, but our friendship will always be there."</p><p>NOTES</p><p>Sam Houston won last season's game, 47-7, in Huntsville, Texas, and lead the all-time series 16-10-1 ... The Colonels had five turnovers (three interceptions and two fumbles) in last season's game ... Nicholls' last defeated Sam Houston in 2005, a 37-17 victory in Thibodaux ... Sam Houston is 26-53-3 all-time in Louisiana ... The Bearkats lost in the FCS national championship game to North Dakota State, 17-6, last season ... The game can be heard on the radio at 100.3-FM, 1600-AM or 106.3-FM.</p>